Photo By Staff Sgt. Armando Limon | Soldiers assigned to the 9th Infantry Brigade, 6th Division, Singapore Armed Forces...... read more read more
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SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii — The 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Broncos,” 25th Infantry Division, hosted a cultural exchange day with members of the 9th Inf. Bde., 6th Div., Singapore Armed Forces, on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii, July 23.
The cultural exchange gave a much-needed break in the middle of the two-week long bilateral exercise taking place here, Waimanalo and Pohakuloa Training Area.
Almost a hundred SAF troops and a dozen staff members of the Bronco brigade were together during the cultural exchange at Oahu, said 1st Lt. James Newsome, environmental science officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd BCT.
“It’s a great responsibility and honor to be able to show them what America and Hawaii has to offer from a military aspect,” Newsome said. “For some of them it’s their first time here in Hawaii, so it’s good to show them around.”
Newsome said the Bronco brigade took their Singapore partners to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii at Fort DeRussy Military Reservation, and the sites and beach of Waikiki.
The USS Arizona Memorial tour was the first on the itinerary for the SAF troops to visit.
Maj. Garick Bay, assigned to the 9th Inf. Bde., 6th Div., SAF, said he had only passing knowledge of the attack prior to his visit to the Arizona Memorial.
“We heard about it and seen it in movies, but up close and personal to the thing itself it’s quite an enriching experience itself,” Bay said. “It gives a bit goosebumps when you are there.”
The Singaporeans were awestruck at visiting the battleship memorial that had become a symbol of perseverance during the Second World War.
The Empire of Japan simultaneously struck both the U.S. and Singapore, albeit technically on different days due to the international dateline, at the beginning of the Pacific War.
Another SAF soldier, 1st Warrant Officer Shawn Maniam, said it was quite interesting how the U.S. preserved the Arizona, and leaving the remains of the fallen Sailors and Marines who lost their lives during the Pearl Harbor raid.
“The sunken ship became the tomb for the dead men and whatever happens on top is what the future of the U.S. is,” Maniam said. “So it was quite an interesting metaphorical message.”
On the big island of Hawaii, the 3rd BCT’s 2-27 Inf. Regt. “Wolfhounds” hosted their SAF partners to sightseeing and capping off the evening with a luau at Kona.
The Wolfhounds had to adjust their cultural day by cancelling their visit to the town of Volcano on the eastern side of the island due heavily rainfall wrought by Tropical Storm Darby.
However, weather didn’t dampen the spirit and magic of Hawaii as the Singaporeans enjoyed their mid-exercise break on the leeward side of the island.
“It was a privilege to experience the Hawaiian culture with the SAF,” said 2nd Lt. Adam Scheenstra, HHC, 2-27th Inf. Regt. “Their excitement and reception of the experience was very positive,” “I believe they thoroughly enjoyed it, as did I.”
Lance Cpl. Teo Wei Jun, SAF, enjoyed his cultural experience after a day of seeing the sites of Hawaii.
“Americans are very friendly,” Teo said. “We had lots of fun in Hawaii, it’s definitely warmer with much more beautiful scenery and awesome blue water.”
(Note: Spc. Patrick Kirby, 3rd BCT Public Affairs, contributed to the story.)
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.29.2016 15:52 |
| Story ID: | 205512 |
| Location: | SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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